Eurowatch - 30 August
By Jason Harris
August 30 2009
Eurowatch returns for the 2009-10 season to focus on Rugby Rovigo in the Super 10 in Italy, plus Sarries' French opposition in the European Challenge Cup in RC Toulon and Castres Olympique.
With the Italian domestic season still a couple of weeks away and the Guinness Premiership kicking off next weekend, the Top 14 over in France is already under way and both Toulon and Castres off to unbeanten starts.
For new Sarries coach Mark McCal's former team an opening day 24-14 win at Biarritz came courtesy of a brace of tries from win Marc Andreu and 14 points from the boot of former Daniel Carter understudy at the Crusaders, Cameron McIntyre.
The Kiwi outisde half was on target again in Round 2 with 19 points as he kicked five penalties and converted tries from Urugayan lock Rodrigo Capo Ortega and his second row partner, the Samoan Josefa Takori as struggling Bourgoin were easily dispatched 29-9.
Castres' Round 3 match against Montauban was postponed due to an outbreak of H1N1 flu around the French game and it is doubftul whether Wednesday's Round 4 game against Albi will take place. Castres currently lie fifth in the table, albieit having played one game fewer than the teams above.
No such health problems over at Toulon who are third following two wins and a draw in their opening three games. First up were the two teams from Paris and in Round 1 it was the multi-coloured Stade Francais who visited Stade Mayol.
A 22-all draw was the result of a dour match dominated by the boot with only one try apiece being scored by the two teams. Toulon's five-pointer came from back row forward Thomas Courice and the remaining points coming from Jonny Wilkinson's left peg; the conversion, four penalties and a drop goal.
RCT's second match was also at home against the other side from the capital, Pro D2 champions Racing Metro 92. Welsh international Jamie Robinson and South African Johann van Niekerk scored the tries while Wilkinson converted van Niekerk's effort and added four penalties before Sebastien Fauque kicked one more six minutes from time to make the final tally 27, while Racing Metro - without any of its former Saracens - managed to score 13.
Although Toulon were tryless in their Round 3 match at Albi, Wilkinson was on target with five goals that secured at 15-9 win.
Up next at Stade Mayol on Wednesday is a test of Toulon's credentials as contenders for Le Championnat as early leaders Clermont Auvergne are the visitors.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:08:30:16:56:22 by large.
It's a long time since Sports network paid anything!
It's a long time since Sports network paid anything!